Text Box: RBAS Participates in Migratory Bird Count Text Box: It was an awesome day for River Bluffs Audubon Society members who participated in International Migratory Bird Day for the bird count on May 12. Those who were present were: Rich George, Jane Frazier, Anita Randolph, Eric Siemons, Celeste Koon and John Ford. Here is the list of species we found in the morning at conservation department headquarters and Binder Lake. Robin Canada geese Red-tailed hawk Cardinal Grackle Eastern kingbird Mockingbird White-throated sparrow House wren Cowbird Goldfinch Chickadee sp. Barn swallow Red-wing blackbird Yellowthroat House finch Purple martin Baltimore oriole Kingfisher Chestnut-sided warbler Nashville warbler Brown thrasher American redstart Tennessee warbler Catbird Night hawk Red-eyed Vireo Blueberry Downy woodpecker Phoebe Chimney swift Tufted titmouse Text Box: Tree swallow Warbling vireo Song sparrow Pine Warbler Starling Orchard oriole Chipping sparrow Mallard Carolina wren Swanson's thrush Crow Red-bellied woodpecker Cape May warbler Blue-gray gnatcatcher Great crested flycatcher Text Box: The Second Annual Wings of Spring Birding Festival was attended by Anita Hammond, Dan Reed, Jane Frazier, and Betty Richey. We left at 6 am on May 5th and were fortunate to not get the predicted rain; however, it was cool and foggy much of the morning. The St. Louis Region lies in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, one of the most important migratory corridors in this hemisphere. The 4000 acre Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary contains 1200 acres of restored marsh/prairie owned and is managed by the US Army of Engineers. The area includes the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers while the Illinois River and Missouri Text Box: Black and white warbler Black poll warbler Summer tanager Parula warbler Nuthatch Wood thrush Louisiana water thrush Hummingbird Towhee Eastern wood peewee Barred owl Turkey vulture Great blue heron Green heron Least sandpiper Killdeer Text Box: River have a confluence just a few miles away. As we arrived, we saw hundreds of White Pelicans and scores of Cormorants. We teamed up with some excellent birders at Ellis Island and they helped us find over 78 species of birds. This included 13 different species of Warbles, including the American Redstart. Many Orchard and Baltimore Orioles were seen as well as Summer and Scarlet Tanagers and Bobolinks and Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, to name a few of the birds seen. Folk music was provided and speakers from the World Bird Sanctuary were present. Also vendors sold lunch and bird/nature photos. Also, learning tents were offered. We returned home later that afternoon and all Text Box: Spring Birding Festival Highlights Migrating Species